Advocacy Alert - May 12, 2021 In this Alliance Advocacy Alert:
Tell Congress: Include Museums in the Infrastructure Bill
The coming days will be critical in determining if museums will be included in infrastructure-related legislation now taking shape. With Congress currently negotiating the American Jobs Plan and American Family Plan, we must continue to make our voices heard now in support of museums. Please contact your Representative and Senators now to support efforts such as the request of Representatives Mike Quigley and Chuy Garcia to include museums in the infrastructure bill.
In addition, as Congress begins to develop legislation to improve the nation's infrastructure, we're interested in hearing from you about the top two or three priorities at your facility that could benefit from access to federal funding. Examples could include projects related to energy efficiency, technological upgrades, transportation needs such as the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles, water efficiency, preparing for the effects of climate change, or others. We only need a sentence or two describing a particular project. This information will help direct our efforts as we work with our champions on Capitol Hill. Please email us to share your top infrastructure priorities.
Thank you for your advocacy for museums.
Stay Informed: Strong Support in the House of Representatives for Museum Funding
The process for determining federal funding levels for FY 2022 has already begun in earnest. Museum advocates have once again built a strong foundation of support for FY 2022 funding for the Office of Museum Services (OMS) at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This year, 151 U.S. Representatives joined a bipartisan letter calling for robust funding for the agency. (A similar Senate letter is being finalized.) This success is possible in part due to an impressive showing at (the first-ever virtual) Museums Advocacy Day 2021, when more than 600 museum supporters from all 50 states made the case for museums during 400+ virtual meetings with congressional offices. Advocates discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, museums' educational and community value, and also presented critical data about their economic impact and deep public support.
What You Can Do: Thank Legislators on Social Media
Legislators need to know that their actions are noticed and appreciated by the museums they represent. So here's the best way to thank them:
Sample Social Media Posts:
Twitter - [Your museum] thanks [Rep. _______________ ] for signing on to this year's OMS letter! Museums are essential. @AAMers #museumsadvocacy
Twitter - Thank you [Rep. _______________ ] for signing on to this year's OMS letter and supporting [your museum name]! @AAMers #museumsadvocacy
Facebook - Museums are essential! We join the American Alliance of Museums in thanking [Rep. _______________ ] for signing on to this year's OMS letter and for your support of [your museum]. #museumsadvocacy
Facebook - [Your museum name] is essential in our community. We join the American Alliance of Museums in thanking [Rep. _______________ ] for signing this year's OMS letter in support of funding for museums. #museumsadvocacy
Reminder: SBA's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) Application Portal Is Open
On April 26, the U.S. Small Business Administration opened its application portal for all priority tiers of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The SBA has specified that funds remain available for new applications. While there is not a deadline for closing the application process, all eligible museums are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The SBA has also provided an updated FAQ, user guide, and preliminary application checklist for those eligible and interested in applying. In addition, on May 11 the SBA issued a post-application FAQ.
Save the Date: Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum Week - August 9-13, 2021
It's never too early to start planning for, or to invite your legislators to, Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum Week! Whether your museum is now open or preparing to safely re-open, you can participate in Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum. Participating in-person or virtually, connecting with your legislators to share with them the breadth of what museums are and do in the communities they represent, and their critical needs at this time, is a uniquely powerful way to make the case for museums. The Alliance's detailed Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum How-To Guide includes step-by-step instructions and resources for planning, preparing, and holding in-person or virtual visits with your elected officials. Don't forget to let us know what visits you are planning!
You don't have to wait until August to introduce, or re-introduce, your legislators to your museum. You can use the same steps and guidance to host your legislators in-person or virtually during these upcoming state and district work periods:
FY 2022 House Office of Museum Services Letter Signers
All signers listed alphabetically by state below. Letter leaders in bold.
Visit www.aam-us.org/advocacy to access all of AAM's advocacy resources.
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